Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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Dr. Getty
Hi Ron,
Underweight can be caused by many factors, so let me give you a list and see if you relate to any of these:
1. Tapeworms – you mentioned that you have him on a worming program. Do you rotate worming chemicals? And, do you provide praziquantel once a year?
2. Ulcers – Ulcers are very common in horses who are stalled for long periods of time, who experience a large amount of stress (due to being without companions, trailering, excessive work, etc.), and from going without food for many hours.
3. Poor bacterial flora in the hindgut – this can be caused by excessive intake of starch (which, when fermented by the bacteria in the hind gut, kills these bacteria). This can also be caused by overall malnutrition. A probiotic is very helpful in these cases.
4. High metabolism – young horses have higher caloric needs than older ones. So, they do need to eat more.
5. Poor quality protein – grass hay is very low in the amino acid called “Lysine,” which is necessary for the production of body proteins (e.g., muscle, enzymes, antibodies, red blood cells, etc.). So, it is important to make sure that the diet contains a mixture of forages to supply a complete amino acid profile.
So, to address the issue of what to feed:
1. Add a legume hay – alfalfa, clover, peanut – either as a hay or as cubes or pellets.
2. Avoid sweet feeds since they are high in sugar and this can cause problems with the bacteria living in the hind gut.
3. Yes, feed a higher protein mixture.
4. Add a high fat top dressing to his feed (such as Weight Builder, or a Flaxseed Meal preparation), or choose a complete feed that is higher in fat.
All the best,
Dr. Getty
